Happy New Year's Eve

Nice windy blowy weather here today. I did the food shopping and I am getting the wash done and put away. Christine is coming over for dinner and champagne. If any of us stay awake past ten, that will be a miracle.


I put a video up on the web of the snow falling today. Fun to do.
S is bringing me my new laptop today. I am psyched.

Sadness today

Today, while I was volunteering, I met a woman and her mom who were visiting the dad. They were both very upset, since the doctor told them it wasn't good. They said that he looked terrible. After I chatted with them for a little bit, I went on to other jobs. A while later, the wife walked by, I asked how it was going, and he had passed away. I went to see the daughter in the family consult. room; I hugged her and talked with her for a bit. Just then, her husband and daughters arrived all upset. What a morning for that family. Very sad.

Family Gathering

Well, C and M and C left on Saturday; I immediately took down all the decorations inside the house. Sometimes they make the place feel crowded and messy, so I just remove them. I bought a new tree for next year, lower than half price, and it is taller and nicer.
We spent yesterday at Joe and Ann Marie's; their home is lovely; new deck, new bathrooms, and of course the gorgeous kitchen. C got a set of Power Ranger action figures and he kissed the packaging, he was that thrilled! Very cute.
Rich and MM came over and there were fun, serious, funny conversations going on all over the place. Very nice day.
The drive home felt fast and furious, the parkway in the evening is just so fast moving. I guess I am getting old. Older than old.

Christmas

Christmas was a great time. Everyone was here, and we had Aunt J and Uncle D, also. The child was thrilled with everything Christmas...gifts, relatives, friends. The food was good and the time was great.
Brian put up photos from the past. The attached one surprised me. Did I ever look like that???

A Day in the Big City

Today, Joyce Ann, her sister in law and I went to New York. Joyce got a last minute invite to attend the show at Radio City. We arrived early in the morning, checked out the Christmas tree and the skating rink, and all the area around there. Then we wen to the eleven o'clock show. It was wonderful. They have added 3D things to the beginning of the show and lots of huge video graphics on the back screen to add to the effects of the show. It was great! The hundreds of dancing Santas was a hit.
Then, we walked through Saks Fifth Ave, the NBC Experience store, Rockefeller Center, and we dined at Ted's, right across the street from Radio City. I had a bison burger...and I may never have one again. Ugh.
The Christmas tree, from New Jersey, was almost a perfectly shaped Christmas tree. It was beautiful.

Friday

I think that C finishes fire school today. Congratulations, we are very proud of you.
I had a very busy Friday. First, mass for Yiv's mom's memory, next breakfast with JR and Yiv, next shopping with our Bayville B. money for the foodbank, next deliver it to foodbank, and help put it on the shelves. Then, in the evening, we headed to the O Wreck Divers Christmas party, Rose, CD, and I. It was quite nice. Good food, fun people, good time. My grab bag prize was a giant jar of pistachios. At least I can eat them!
My sugar numbers are so under control that I am ecstatic. Even after a party, with more than a couple of bloody marys, I was 125 today; good number for me! The doc is pleased if I keep it around there. So am I!
Here is the view in California where S and A are staying.

California

A and S are in California to watch GG run in the Foot Locker Championship. Big time. They have called me three times already to tell me how great it is there. Alan broke his glasses so he had to go get drugstore glasses to survive the weekend. I am heading out to din din with Doe and Pat for our annual eat out for Christmas. Doe has had neck surgery and she is healing very slowly. Pat is going through some major life changes, cleaning the house of some deadwood (haha), and listing the house for sale...to lose all ties to the dead wood! Good for her. This is long overdue...long overdue.

Big News

Yes, big news...a new hot water heater! Yahoo. No, really, we weren't getting enough hot water from the old one, so I am happy about it. Not about taking that from my paltry savings account to pay for it, but, oh well. That is the kind of thing you save for, isn't it?
Today I did phones and email for work. Not too busy, so I can crochet while answering phones, to finish up M's gift.

New Truck

S has purchased a new truck. Here it is!

A December Week in New Jersey

Today, I went to my second diabetes class. I learned about snacks, lunch, and about all the different types of meds available. I learned about how they work, each one serving a different purpose. I am learning much more than I thought I would from this class. I feel bad it is only four classes.
I am working phones and email all day tomorrow. I can get wash done, maybe do some decorating around the house, things like that. Then on Wednesday I head to the hospital to "save lives" as I like to say.
C has become interested in fractions. I will put up a worksheet he did with his mom.

Cold Day Today

Today it is quite cold and windy out. I just synched a lot of Christmas music onto my ipod; I also added lots of photos so they will play while music plays. Nice! Some days I feel like such a techie and other days I think I know nothing about technology!
We lunched with S today. I gave him his first Christmas present, a carry-on bag for his trip. He and Al will use their new bags for the trip to CA on Wednesday.

San Diego, here they come....

Alan and S. are heading to San Diego to watch G G run in the Foot Locker Invitational. They are leaving next Wednesday. So, I have dinner plans with Doe and Pat on Thursday night. I may go to the hospital to work a little more that week, to keep from boredom. Of course, I have to work for zumu on Tuesday all day. That always turns out to be pretty busy. I have a party to attend that Friday night, then I am helping setup for the Jingle Bell Classic on Saturday and then help with the race on Sunday. It will be a very busy weekend after all!
This weekend, party with the B'ville B tonight at Patti's, then nothing all weekend. Just housecleaning, I guess. Yawn. Maybe we will decorate the tree and things like that.

Christmas Shopping

Oh the wild exhausting fun! Finding Christmas presents for the family. I am tired and finished. I guess. Maybe not.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Turkey Day. I am going to mass with Christine and Rose, then we will be heading up to C and M's. We are looking forward to seeing little C, the big kindergarten man. Bye.

Sushi!

We had dinner at The Office Lounge tonight. I had sushi. Yum! Delicious.
Today and yesterday I did some shopping. I also got all the things we need for Thanksgiving at C and M's. My back is hurting the past couple of days. Not upper, not lower,middle back. It aches.
C got a good report from his kindergarten teacher. That is great news.
I don't have much to report. Bye.

Rain rain rain

Well, here we are in mid-November and it is a pouring rainy Saturday. Alan headed out for the Larry James memorial service with J. It is in Atlantic City. I am heading there tomorrow morning to do some Borgata with S. before putting her on her plane at the AC Airport for her return flight to Florida.
Not much more going on here. Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

November

Well, AC didn't pan out last week. We did badly, so we didn't stay long at all. We will wait a while to go again. Booo.
JR and I are heading to a local Catholic hs to sell them our product this week. Hope it works out.
We are also hopefully going to have a totally different President by Tuesday evening. Let's hope it works out. Pray pray pray.

Cold Windy Day

I decided to put the picture up of the Mon Don Track team from last June 2008. They won the state meet!!!
Today is cold and windy and rainy. It was so sunny and warm yesterday; what a difference! I am doing phones and email for my boss today, so I am busy. C. gets to have lunch with the principal this week because it was his birthday this month. He has to come with a story or a joke. I wonder what he will say!
Tomorrow, JR and I are heading to AC again to test our luck. I have bucks waiting for me, so I don't have to bring too much money with me.

At the Cowboy Shoot

My friend, Joyce M., has been talking about "Cowboy Shoots" for years. This year, the cowboy shoot in Jackson was dedicated to Joyce's deceased husband, whose shooter nickname was Bullwinkle. So, Joyce Rose and I attended. We missed the brief dedication, but we were there in time to hear all the safety details. We then followed Joyce to the place where she would be shooting (for the first time in a shoot). We had to wear earplugs and eye protection. All the cowboys and cowgirls were dressed in full costume. It was weird, being in a setting with most people dressed in period clothing, seeing them drive golf carts. Kind of strange.
Tomorrow is C's sixth birthday, a superhero training camp. Firehouse, lots and lots of planned activities. We have to bring lots of things with us to help out.
Pictures of the cowboy shoot: http://picasaweb.google.com/rascalily/Cowgirl#

October Update

Well, it is October already. Last Saturday I went to watch C play soccer. Kindergartners are very cute, doing simple drills and playing a small, 3 on 3 game. Then C and I went out to lunch while M and C went out on a photo jaunt. Today I took Doe to the doctor. She has a bad neck (vertebrae) injury. She will have surgery on October 27th. Tomorrow I am heading to P to watch the little guy while mom goes to an event and dad goes to fire school. C and I will have fun together, but it will mostly be bath and bed because it is a school night. WEdnesday, I have to go for an ultrasound of my right b., hoping that the cyst is missing now. Say a prayer, please blog.

September at the Shore

Tomorrow is my son S's birthday, 31. It seems like only yesterday we were heading to the doctor to find out if I was in labor or not. Quick delivery (thank you, S) and home to meet his brother a couple of days later.
Now he is a teacher and a coach and we are so proud of that "baby" boy.
C started school this year. He said the first day was the greatest day of his life. Good to have that super attitude at the startup. Let's hope he stays on course, loving school.
A. is away golfing this weekend, down in New Bern, with T., W, and the infamous Joey H. A loves this time every year. They should have come up here. It will be 92 tomorrow, after chilly weather for most of the week before.

Atlantic City

I went with JR to the Borgata in AC today. I came home UP four hundred dollars!!! Yay!!! I haven't had good luck there lately, but this summer has been good.

Niagara Falls

I spent a wonderful few days with Christine, driving up to and enjoying Niagara Falls. We stayed on the Canadian side, at the Sheraton on the Falls. We used my starpoints for a free room. It had a view of the falls and the town, so it was wonderful. That roar of the waterfalls in the background is constantly present and it leads to good sleep. We rode on the Maid of the Mist, went Behind the Falls, experienced Niagara's Fury (a Disney-like experience where you get wet, cold, snow, rain, fun), we walked next to the rapids in the gorge. All a wonderful experience! It is far away, however. Nine hours each way, with construction delays, the border, etc. causing delays. Oh well. We had fun!

Mama Mia

I went with Kathy and Joyce to see Mama Mia today. I saw the Broadway show years ago with Sherry and Chuck on a bus trip and I loved it. The movie was fun, of course not as great as the play. But, we did lunch first, then movie, then a drink at the house after. It worked out to be a wonderful afternoon with friends, and that is what life is about, isn't it??
PS Pierce Brosnan should never sing. Never.

Heat Wave

We are definitely having a heat wave here in Ocean County. It is brutal out. I am choosing to remain in. Even sitting in the shade is too much outdoors. The wooden boat show is today along with the ice cream festival, and we stayed home. It is just too hot!!

Stone Harbor Week

We spent a week in Stone Harbor with son, wife, child, other mother. It was nice weather, with the exception of a huge, quick moving, loud thunderstorm that blew up one evening. It was grandma to the rescue, going to save wife and grandson coming home from Springer's, and then saving son, who was out on a walk. Big rain started the minute we got back to the house. It was an exciting storm, and you know I love them!!

C. enjoyed the rides at Wildwood and the Water Park. He also loves to go to the arcade; Mommy took him once and husband and I took him another time; he kept saying "That's what I'm talkin' about." while playing one game. Cute!!

He went miniature golfing, and made a hole in one! The only person in the group to do that!!

The beach, as usual, beautiful. My heel has been a problem, so I restricted the walking I could do. I rode my bike around, however, and that was fine.

Tomorrow I have made plans to kayak with Kathy. I will see how that goes.

Back from Vacation

We are back from Virginia. We spent a week at a timeshare in Williamsburg. It was Governor's Green, and it was very nice. Tom and Peg and Jack and Peg came with us. The guys golfed while we shopped. We spent one day going to Shirley Plantation, which was a very nice place. The tour was interesting. Robert E. Lee's mom grew up there and he loved the place.
We also had a wonderful day touring Jamestown, Va. Wow! That place is awesome, really giving you a look at life at the beginning of our country: the film, the gallery, the Native American village, the boats, and the actual Jamestown settlement. Incredibly interesting. Walt joined the guys for golf, and Sharon came and joined us at the Williamsburg Pottery. On our last night, our 38th anniversary, we ALL went out to dinner at Uno Chicago Grill. Lovely night out.
Williamsburg got taken over by the British while we were there; it was fun to boo and yell at them as they went by on horseback.
So, we did lots of shopping, lots of sightseeing, and had some fun. Oh, we went through the Yorktown battlefields TWICE; we visited the Williamsburg Vineyard and had a very Euro style lunch. Delicious. I will put pictures later.

June Update

Well, my 60th birthday has come and gone. I had a big party for myself, with Alan facilitating the party. I had people bring donations for the food bank instead of presents and that was great. My car was full of food!!! The guy at the food bank was so surprised.
We had great fun at the party. I served screaming orgasms as the signature drink. It got lots of laughs.
Our home improvements are done, except for a threshold between the living room and the hallway. No hurry. Danny the tile guy is doing that for us. It will be great when it is all done.
Margaret Y was up visiting,so we had Shady Ladies here the other night. It was fun, but some people imbibed more than they should have. NOt good.
C is here for two nights. C and M went out on a date tonight; M has to meet with editors tomorrow in Ny, and Grandma Fitz and I will do something fun with him.
Take care for now.

May Update

Our home improvements are almost finished. We have new countertops and new backsplash in the kitchen, and an all new tile bathroom. It makes the place look a lot better.
The kids will be home this weekend. We always enjoy their visits. C loves to have a good wrestle with Grandpa every morning, and he won't be disappointed.
I am having some medical issues, weird test results, but I feel fine. I hope they are all false alarms.
The hospital was busy this week. When is it not busy? I don't know.

Mother's Day

I haven't blogged in quite a while. We spent Mother's Day at C and M's. C's cousins were there, so we were able to have adult conversations and relax. We had barbecue. I tried a buffalo burger for the first time. It was very good!!!

Florida Trip

We went to Florida for a week, returning last Friday. We visited Sherry for a few days, then brought her to the resort we booked. She stayed for Saturday and Sunday, leaving early Monday morning for home. Alan got to golf three times. We did two days at Disney places. I am done with Orlando now, and want to vacation elsewhere next winter. We will work on that.
C visited last weekend. He is getting easier to take care of, and can amuse himself much better than ever before. We just delight in everything he does, always.
We are waiting on Rudy to renovate parts of our house. We are waiting to set up the date for my birthday party, also. 60 is a big one and needs to be celebrated.

February

Alan is at a meet tonight. C D and I had dinner at Shogun. She had never gone Japanese before, so this was new and interesting for her. We sat with some nice folk, so the evening was nice.
The Bahamas was great for the kids. C said it was the best day of his life each day in the Bahamas. He called me the other night, upset that mommy and daddy were hugging and kissing; he felt jealous and left out. Cute! I told him to get in the middle of the hug. He said, "Grandma, you can't get in the middle of that hug!"
He is a sweetheart.

End of January Update

I haven't blogged in a while. I have been working at the hospital, working for the computer company, and entertaining the kids. So, busy busy busy. Cleaning shopping cooking.
Anyway, January is racing away. A, C and M had a joint birthday party here. C was totally excited about it. Then, after decorating the whole downstairs with A, C went upstairs all alone. He was playing with his train table. Later in the evening, I asked him why he went upstairs. He said, "I was angry; when it's not your birthday, nobody cares about you." I thought that was way cute!!
And by the way, Go Patriots!!!!!
C M and C leave tomorrow for the Bahamas. I know they will have an awesome time! C can't wait to swim with the dolphins.

Feeling sick

I have pain in my lower left quadrant. I hope that means nothing at all except gas. I have felt sort of ill all day.
Alan and I took everything out of the fridge this morning, every shelf, everything, and gave everything a very thorough cleaning. Nice feeling. That was lots of work.
Tomorrow I have to vacuum the place. Oh, I also mopped floors and did the never ending task of laundry today. All with pain. Let's hope it is nothing.

This Blog's for Me

I keep thinking, who would I share this blog with. One answer, who would care? So, I am just keeping it for me. Today was exhausting! I did my volunteer work in the morning, at the ED at the hospital. It was crazy insane busy today. In the afternoon I did my real estate work with Mar; three and a half hours. When will they pay me????

We got cute photos in email of Little Dragon, the boy taking tae kwon do lessons. Cute!! I will put one here.

Happy New Year

I went to bed early last night, but I woke up to hear sirens, bells, fireworks and yelling to welcome in the new year. It was very noisy in the neighborhood; it is usually quite quiet at that time on New Year's. In the morning, I got up early and headed to do my volunteer work at the hospital. It was very busy there and I had plenty to do to keep from being bored. Lots of sick folk today, sad that they were sick on New Year's Day.
Now I have to plan dinner, so good bye for now.